Feb. 22, 2012

UVU Game Notes

OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley University's women's basketball team makes its final road trip of the regular season when it travels to the Lone Star State for a pair of important Great West Conference matchups. The Wolverines will be in Houston on Thursday night for a matchup with Houston Baptist, and then will travel to Edinburgh, Texas, for a Saturday tilt with Texas-Pan American. Both games will tip at 6 p.m. MT time.

Live audio and stats for both games will be available through WolverineGreen.com.

Last week, UVU (12-12, 4-2 GWC) had a bye from league play, but filled the gap with a non-conference trip to Seattle University. The Wolverines kept things close through much of the first half, but couldn't find a groove on the offensive end, eventually dropping a 70-41 decision. Jenna Johnson was the lone UVU player in double figures, scoring 10 points.

Sammie Jensen's double-double average of 14.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game lead the Wolverines, and also rank second and first, respectively, in the GWC. Jensen's rebounding prowess puts her among the nation's top rebounders as she ranks 17th in rebounds per game, and her 13 double-doubles on the year rank in a tie for eighth.

Johnson is next in scoring at 8.1 ppg, followed by Whitney Jenkins, who puts up 6.5 ppg but is netting 9.7 ppg in conference play. Kaycee Mansfield ranks second on the team in rebounding, grabbing 5.3 boards per contest.

About HBU
HBU (1-22, 0-6 GWC) dropped two road games last week, losing to Chicago State and NJIT. Freshman Devyn Weymouth notched a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds against CSU, while junior Joselyn Pugh led the Huskies with 10 points at NJIT.

Weymouth leads the Huskies in both scoring and rebounding at 8.1 ppg and 6.1 rpg. Pugh is second in both categories, averaging 7.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg.

HBU has been without Shanice Steenholdt, its starting forward, for the last six games. Steenholdt led the GWC in both scoring and rebounding before her absence.

UVU leads the all-time series with the HBU 4-0, and will meet them twice in a five-day span when the Huskies travel to Orem on Feb. 28 for a makeup game. The first meeting between UVU and HBU, originally scheduled for Feb. 4, was postponed due to weather.

About UTPA
UTPA (10-15, 3-4 GWC) split its road games last weekend, falling at NJIT, 61-52, but notching a 59-52 win over Chicago State. Three Broncs scored in double figures at CSU, as junior Johnondra Patterson and senior Adanna Opara each scored 14 points and junior Bianca Torre added 12. Torre also had 20 points against NJIT.

The Broncs are led by 10.7 ppg from Torre and 10.3 ppg from LaQuita Garner. Torre has been on a tear through GWC play, putting up 14.0 points per conference contest. Opara is the top rebounder at 6.3 rpg.

UVU never trailed in its first meeting with UTPA, getting 21 points and 10 rebounds from Jensen and 12 points from Jenkins. Opara had 14 points for the Broncs.

The Wolverines lead the all-time series with UTPA 10-5.

Up Next for UVU
UVU closes out the regular season at home next week when it hosts HBU on Tuesday in a 1 p.m. contest, followed by the season finale with league-leading North Dakota on Saturday at 3 p.m.